2026

Whereas communities across the Province of British Columbia face housing affordability challenges and require fair taxation policies to ensure municipalities can collect appropriate revenue from properties used for commercial accommodation purposes; And whereas the current definition of Strata Accommodation Property limits business classification to strata plans with twenty or more units, resulting in smaller strata plans used for overnight commercial accommodation being assessed and taxed as residential properties: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Colu

Whereas municipal tree protection bylaws play a critical role in preserving urban forests, supporting climate adaptation, protecting environmental values, and maintaining community character; And whereas unauthorized tree removal or damageparticularly in the context of developmentcan result in significant and irreversible environmental loss that is not adequately deterred by current maximum fine amounts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to establish higher or distinct maximum fines for tree bylaw violations, recognizing the environmental, ecological

Whereas electors vote to incorporate a new municipality based on information provided through a provincial incorporation study which considers matters, including but not limited to, the name, boundary, area and classification and from which the Province of BC establishes a letters patent; And whereas the most recent incorporation process in British Columbia is varying from this usual process causing concern to the residents and businesses, delaying the election of a Council and causing local economic decline: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the Province of BC to ensure that estab

Whereas section 109.3 of the Community Charter provides for mandatory leave of absence for elected officials in prescribed circumstances; And whereas subsection 109.32b requires that an elected official on mandatory leave continue to receive remuneration and benefits during that period; And whereas local governments have limited authority under the Community Charter to adjust remuneration in circumstances where an elected official is unable to perform their duties due to mandatory leave: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia amend section 109.32

Whereas local government elected officials in British Columbia do not possess statutory immunity or freedom of speech protections comparable to those of Members of the Legislative Assembly or Parliament, leaving them personally vulnerable to civil liability and reprisal when raising ethical concerns or dissenting in good faith; And whereas the lack of robust, province-wide legislative safeguards creates a chilling effect on ethical debate and disproportionately exposes women, underrepresented groups, and new entrants to governance to personal, legal, and reputational risks: Therefore be i

Whereas the loss of the former rail lines, including the Squamish-Cariboo,which may ensue from CN Rails plans announced in July 2025 to terminate its lease, would result in shippers being forced to use highercost truck transport, increased public highway maintenance costs, loss of passenger tourist or commuter rail opportunity, higher GHG emissions, loss of transportation corridor redundancy affecting Western Canada, and constrained regional economic development; And whereas rail discontinuance policies applying to the former BC Rail line do not necessarily account for regional and longter

Whereas the provincial and federal governments recognize Northern British Columbia transportation corridors as nationally significant trade routes that support Canadas access to Asia Pacific markets; And whereas developing cost-shared funding for Northern British Columbia transportation infrastructure, prioritizing projects that shift heavy truck volumes to strengthened rail and intermodal alternatives and providing dedicated funding to Indigenous Nations and communities to support meaningful participation in consultation, planning, and monitoring of these projects supports major project d

Whereas the BC Ministry of Transportation is often unable to manage local gravel roads to a reasonable standard: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the BC Ministry of Transportation to substantially increase the annual funding allocation towards repair and maintenance of gazetted gravel roads across BC; And be it further resolved that the BC Ministry of Transportation produce a publicly accessible website on the service category for each gazetted gravel road the maintenance standards for each road category, and a public hotline to report and track road deficiencies which do not meet c

Whereas BC local governments rely on affordable aggregate resources, such as gravel, to maintain and construct essential infrastructure, including municipal roads; And whereas regulatory, land access, and development constraints have made it financially unfeasible for local governments to access crushed aggregate, which significantly increases infrastructure costs and financial pressure on communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government Ministry of Transportation and Transit to work with local governments to improve access to affordable aggregate resource

Whereas the British Columbia Transit Act requires regional transit commissions to tax municipalities for the annual cost of a public passenger transportation system pursuant to section 15 of that Act; And whereas public transportation systems are generally unable to provide frequent, regular, or any service to rural communities that are taxed by the regional transit commission for the system: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Ministry of Transportation and Transit amend the British Columbia Transit Act to provide a two-tiered financing model for taxation by regional tran